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Laser System to be Tested in Boulder, CO

Posted by michael on from the fry-and-die dept.

luv_jeeps writes "Ball Aerospace is going to test fire a laser beam on Sunday night, as part of the CALIPSO project. If you live in the Colorado/Wyoming area, chances are good that you could see it. The article, a little light on details, says that the beam could be as big around as a basketball hoop."

4 of 318 comments (clear)

  1. tape it please by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    will some kind person in Colorado video tape this event and put up a torrent for it.

    Please :)

  2. The Allan Parson's Project, Phase 1 by The+Spanish+Ninja · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It'd be interesting to see some technical specs on this giant laser, to see how similar it is to the cutting laser I used to work on. I bet that baby takes about 12 hours to warm up. Anyone know what the frequency on the green beam is? C'mon people, get technical! Also, all you people in that area: take pictures!

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    "I like you, but I wouldn't want to see you working with subatomic particles."
  3. prepare to be scanned by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This test in Colorado points a laser from the ground to the sky. The deployment is a satellite platform to measure the atmosphere. Will the deployed laser be pointed at the surface? Will their autoshutoff radar detectors protect us from the sweep of its beam?

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    make install -not war

  4. Re:Caution by penguinoid · · Score: 5, Interesting

    That is what the radar is for. I'm not sure if it is a conventional radar, or if they send a beam of weaker light surrounding the beam and turn it off if something reflects the light back.

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    Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways